Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii served as key components of fecal microbiota transplantation to alleviate colitis.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a promising therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) via rectifying gut microbiota. The aim of this study was to identify a mechanism of how specific bacteria-associated immune response contributes to alleviated colitis. Forty donors were divided into high (donor H) and low (donor L) groups according to the diversity and the abundance of Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium by 16S rRNA sequencing. FMT was performed on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Mice with colitis showed significant improvement in intestinal injury and immune imbalance after FMT with group donor H (P < 0.05). Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii were identified as targeted strains in donor feces by real-time PCR and droplet digital PCR. Mice with colitis were treated with mono- or dual-bacterial gavage therapy. Dual-bacterial therapy significantly ameliorated intestinal injury compared with mono-bacterial therapy (P < 0.05). Dual-bacterial therapy increased the M2/M1 macrophage polarization and improved the Th17/Treg imbalance and elevated IL-10 production by Tregs compared with the DSS group (P < 0.05). Metabolomics showed increased abundance of lecithin in the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway. In conclusion, B. thetaiotaomicron and F. prausnitzii, as the key bacteria in donor feces, alleviate colitis in mice. The mechanism may involve increasing lecithin and regulating IL-10 production of intestinal Tregs.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We demonstrate that donors with high abundance of Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium ameliorate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice by fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). The combination therapy of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is superior to mono-bacterial therapy in ameliorating colitis in mice, of which mechanism may involve promoting lecithin and inducing IL-10 production of intestinal Tregs.

The intestinal colonization of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum AR113 is influenced by its mucins and intestinal environment.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is an important member of the probiotic family and colonization of the host intestinal is essential for its continued probiotic function. The mechanism of L. plantarum intestinal colonization has not been elucidated until now, an important reason being that the colonization process is influenced by a number of factors. In this study, to confirm the influences of adhesion ability and host intestinal environment on L. plantarum intestinal colonization, knockouts of L. plantarum AR113 mucin genes were constructed using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, and polyethylene glycol was used to reduce the intestinal flora abundance. The knockout of L. plantarum AR113 mucin genes barely altered the strain's tolerance to acid and bile salts. Notably, the adhesion number of AR113ΔLp_1431ΔLp_2233ΔLp_2792 to HT-29 cells was reduced from 175 to 114 per 100 cells. Through in vivo colonization experiments, an increase in the fluorescence intensity of AR113 and AR113ΔLp_1431&2233&2792 was detected the day after the mice were fed, while the deletion of Lp_1431, Lp_2233 and Lp_2792 genes reduced the intestinal tract colonization time from 14 to 11 days. Both AR113 and AR113ΔLp_1431ΔLp_2233ΔLp_2792 were reproduced in the intestine by labeling with 5-(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate N-succinimidyl ester. The results showed that the change in fluorescence intensity was closely dependent on the number of adhesions. Finally, compared to the control group, the prolonged intestinal colonization time of AR113ΔLp_1431ΔLp_2233ΔLp_2792 increased mice intestinal flora abundance, with distributions in the duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon. Collectively, both the intestinal environment and the adhesion ability of L. plantarum AR113 affected intestinal colonization, and the host's intestinal genetic background may be a key factor in the intestinal colonization of L. plantarum.

Synthesis of boronate-functionalized organic-inorganic hybrid monolithic column for the separation of cis-diol containing compounds at low pH.

In this work, an organic-inorganic hybrid boronate affinity monolithic column was prepared via "one-pot" process using 4-vinylphenylboronic acid as organic monomer and divinylbenzene as cross-linker. The effects of reaction temperature, solvents and composition of organic monomers on the column properties (e.g. morphology, permeability, and mechanical stability) were investigated. A series of test compounds including small neutral molecules, aromatic amines, and cis-diol compounds were used to evaluate the retention behaviors of the prepared hybrid monolithic column. The results demonstrated that the prepared hybrid monolith exhibited mixed-interactions including hydrophilicity, cation exchange, and boronate affinity interaction. The run-to-run, day-to-day and batch-to-batch reproducibilities of the prepared hybrid monolith for thiourea's retention time were satisfactory with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 0.09, 1.45 and 4.05% (n = 3), respectively, indicating the effectiveness and practicability of the proposed method.

Preparation of a long-alkyl-chain-based hybrid monolithic column with mixed-mode interactions using a "one-pot" process for pressurized capillary electrochromatography.

A simple "one-pot" approach for the preparation of a new vinyl-functionalized organic-inorganic hybrid monolithic column is described. In this improved method, the hydrolyzed alkoxysilanes of tetramethoxysilane and triethoxyvinylsilane were used as precursors for the synthesis of a silica-based monolith, while 1-hexadecene and sodium ethylenesulfonate were used as vinyl functional monomers along with azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. The effects of reaction temperature, urea content, and composition of organic monomers on the column properties (e.g. morphology, mechanical stability, and chromatographic performance) were investigated. The monolithic column was used for the separation of neutral solutes by reversed-phase pressurized capillary. Furthermore, the monolith can separate various aromatic amines, which indicated its excellent cation-exchange capability and hydrophobic interactions. The baseline separation of the aromatic amines was obtained with a column efficiency of up to 78 000 plates/m.

Preparation and evaluation of o-phenanthroline immobilized on a hybrid silica monolith modified with ionic liquids for reversed-phase pressurized capillary electrochromatography.

A novel o-phenanthroline-immobilized ionic-liquid-modified hybrid monolith for capillary electrochromatography was synthesized based on chloropropyl-silica, which was prepared by the in situ polymerization of tetramethoxysilane and 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane via a sol-gel process. The morphology of the hybrid monolith was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, and relatively stable anodic electroosmotic flow was observed under a broad pH ranged from pH 3.0 to 9.0. The separation mechanism was investigated by separating four neutral molecules (toluene, dimethylformamide, formamide, and thiourea). The obtained hybrid monolith possessed an obviously reversed-phase retention mechanism, but when the acetonitrile content in the mobile phase was >90% v/v, a weak hydrophilic mechanism was observed on the resultant o-phenanthroline-modified chloropropyl-silica hybrid monolith. The reproducibility of the column was also investigated by measuring relative standard deviations of the migration time for four neutral molecules. Relative standard deviations of run to run (n = 3), day to day (n = 3), and column to column (n = 3) were in the range of 0.4-0.7, 0.9-2.1, and 1.4-3.3%, respectively. Basic separations of various polar analytes including phenols and aromatic amines were successfully achieved.

[Effect of snoring on facial growth in children].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of snoring on facial growth in children and the changes after surgery. METHODS: Observations on facial growth were taken by X-ray 1.5 - 2 years before and after surgery on 40 children snorers aged between 2 - 5 years old, whose tonsils and (or) adenoids were completely removed. The data collected before surgery in the 2 - 3 years old snorers and in the 4 - 5 years old ones were compared with the data from healthy children at the same age respectively. RESULTS: The comparison of data between 21 children snorers aged from 2 - 3 and 17 healthy children of the same ages showed that there was no significant difference in the diameter of pharyngeal cavity at tongue base (PAS), the diameter of nasopharyngeal cavity (UPW-PNS) and the angle between mandibular plane and frankfort horizontal plane (FH-MP) within 2 - 3 years group by statistically (P > 0.05). There is no significance in UPW-PNS and FH-MP angle within 4 - 5 years group by statistics (P > 0.05). Others results is significance in all groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in all groups expect Y-axis Angle 1.5 - 2 years after surgery (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal facial growth was caused by the consistent force from the changed way of breathing due to the increasing narrowness of upper airway obstruction and the long-existing obstructive sleep. Surgery done as soon as possible is helpful to reduce the force caused by the obstruction and helpful to the normal facial growth.